PLANS to build a biomass plant in Cheney Manor are on the verge of collapse after Pure Green withdrew its application for an environmental permit with the Environment Agency.

Coun Des Moffatt (Lab, Rodbourne Cheney), who has led opposition to the plans from the start, has said this is a positive step forward for the hundreds of residents against the building of the plant.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said yesterday: “I can confirm that the application submitted by Pure Green to the Environment Agency on August 19, 2013, for a waste wood and biomass boiler at Cheney Manor, was formally withdrawn by the applicant on December 17, 2013.

“The withdrawal of this application does not prevent the operator from applying again.”

The UK offshoot of Hippofan, a European specialist in animal bedding, lodged plans to build the biomass plant at Cheney Manor Industrial Estate with Swindon Council in April last year.

The plans have been at the centre of a number of large public gatherings, including a residents’ meeting, a planning committee and a council meeting.

Under the proposals, the company wants to produce around 50,000 tonnes of animal bedding plus energy at its plant which would see the construction of two chimneys up to 30 metres high.

Despite the withdrawal of the application with the Environment Agency, the plans are not yet dead and buried, with a planning application still awaiting a decision from Swindon Council.

Geoff Fynes, the agent assigned to the application by Pure Green, said: “As far as I am aware the application is still live and under consideration.”

Mr Fynes also said the last time he received instruction from Peter Vandeputte, Pure Green’s lead on the application, was during a meeting with planners shortly before Christmas.

A decision on this planning matter was deferred in August, and would not be considered until Pure Green began a series of consultations with the public, which have yet to take place.

Agents representing the applicants have shown no inclination to begin consultations when asked by the council’s officers for an update on the planning application.

“People need licences to operate and pollute the air, everywhere in the country,” said Coun Moffatt. “They have withdrawn the application with the Environment Agency, which is significant.

“The other thing is that it still needs to go to planning. If they got planning permission they could still go back to the Environment Agency and open up another application.”

Pure Green’s planning application continues to sit on the council’s system, pending a final decision. While Pure Green continues to delay any consultation action, the clock is ticking according, to Coun Moffatt, who said these matters are not allowed to fester and skew the council’s performance figures.

“The whole thing stands in limbo until they do consult or the council tries to dispose of the application. The longer it sits there it damages the council’s performance targets.”

Well BMW has got two massive unused buildings at the front of their plant in stratton , maybe they could build it there , or failing that seeing as the old airfield in wroughton is having all those solar panels. Maybe they could build it on that land and use the energy from burning to be used on the grid . Or use their great big incinerator to burn the excess landfill waste from all around Swindon. This could be a massive chance for the Town , don't throw it out without first considering what options are available. We need Industry in this town , don't turn it away.

Well BMW has got two massive unused buildings at the front of their plant in stratton , maybe they could build it there , or failing that seeing as the old airfield in wroughton is having all those solar panels. Maybe they could build it on that land and use the energy from burning to be used on the grid . Or use their great big incinerator to burn the excess landfill waste from all around Swindon. This could be a massive chance for the Town , don't throw it out without first considering what options are available. We need Industry in this town , don't turn it away.Davethered

A very sensible solution, we hope? The trading estate has become engulfed by mainly residential development since it was opened. presumably to be for engineering / manufacturing / storage and now sits well away from good transport links as well.

I imagine there was some rather attractive offer put to this company to try and position it as near to the tip as possible and maybe FS were acting more as front runners than the company themselves? The whole thing is very suspicious.

A very sensible solution, we hope? The trading estate has become engulfed by mainly residential development since it was opened. presumably to be for engineering / manufacturing / storage and now sits well away from good transport links as well.
I imagine there was some rather attractive offer put to this company to try and position it as near to the tip as possible and maybe FS were acting more as front runners than the company themselves? The whole thing is very suspicious.Morsey

Parts of Cheney Manor Industrial Estate are in such a state of disrepair, it seems silly to turn away Industry companies who actually want to make use of it but at the same time I understand that the road links in/out are not suitable for large trucks. It's a horrible road to drive along with potholes, burst water mains and so many buildings with smashed windows or hoardings where buildings used to be. There are some great little companies hidden away in some of the buildings but it can't do them much good when the road links are so unloved by whoever is supposed to look after them.

Parts of Cheney Manor Industrial Estate are in such a state of disrepair, it seems silly to turn away Industry companies who actually want to make use of it but at the same time I understand that the road links in/out are not suitable for large trucks. It's a horrible road to drive along with potholes, burst water mains and so many buildings with smashed windows or hoardings where buildings used to be. There are some great little companies hidden away in some of the buildings but it can't do them much good when the road links are so unloved by whoever is supposed to look after them.Hels-bells

as usual the nimby yokels have scared away more investment/jobs for swindon.funny how one of the "protesters" locked in a cage in the picture is m.thatcher.look what the other one did? funny how any new development is going to cause "traffic chaos and nuisance to residents".maybe the adver can run a headline proclaiming the 21st century has already begun so the town doesnt get dragged even further behind other places by negative attitudes.

as usual the nimby yokels have scared away more investment/jobs for swindon.funny how one of the "protesters" locked in a cage in the picture is m.thatcher.look what the other one did? funny how any new development is going to cause "traffic chaos and nuisance to residents".maybe the adver can run a headline proclaiming the 21st century has already begun so the town doesnt get dragged even further behind other places by negative attitudes.timt1964

yes i am a nimby. I live near to this proposed site.
There is also a school nearby,do we want our children to breath in carcinogenic (cancer) particles NO.
Do we want our washing covered in **** NO
Do we want large vehicles cloging our roads 24/7 NO

yes i am a nimby. I live near to this proposed site.
There is also a school nearby,do we want our children to breath in carcinogenic (cancer) particles NO.
Do we want our washing covered in **** NO
Do we want large vehicles cloging our roads 24/7 NOBWB

I live downwind of this proposed plant as well and do not want to have to keep my windows shut all year to keep out the toxic smog.

The company name and the description biomass plant are fraudulent as they propose to burn industrial waste in the form of chipboard leftover from manufacturing and not plant materials, then generate very little electricity as most of the power goes to dry that most essential of material 'animal bedding'. They are just using environmentally friendly sounding buzzwords as a smokescreen to get permission.

The number of employees is going to be very small so is not going to add much to the town anyway.

If it gets built and most of Swindon gets smothered in poisonous fumes, as they have admitted could happen and claim to be able solve by sprinkling fairy dust in the furnace, then it will be too late to do anything about it.

I live downwind of this proposed plant as well and do not want to have to keep my windows shut all year to keep out the toxic smog.
The company name and the description biomass plant are fraudulent as they propose to burn industrial waste in the form of chipboard leftover from manufacturing and not plant materials, then generate very little electricity as most of the power goes to dry that most essential of material 'animal bedding'. They are just using environmentally friendly sounding buzzwords as a smokescreen to get permission.
The number of employees is going to be very small so is not going to add much to the town anyway.
If it gets built and most of Swindon gets smothered in poisonous fumes, as they have admitted could happen and claim to be able solve by sprinkling fairy dust in the furnace, then it will be too late to do anything about it.swinres